Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-03-31
SHERMAN'S SPEECH
DELIVERED IN THE HALL OF
REPRESENTATIVES,
At Nashville, to the Republicans of the
LegisIature-Fun Text OF the Great
Speech.
[Continued from first nare. /

is based upon the idea that ignorance is
the strength Of the Democratic party and
intelligence Is its bane, then / think ev-
cry liberal minded Democrat should be
ashamed of the position of his party.
The Republican party felt 1t to be q
national duty to come to the aid of the
States. In the Forty eighth Congress the
measure providing for this aid was crude I;
I with others pointed out its defects and
It was recommitted. Some Of the Nash
vile papers say that ! was opposed to the
Blair bill. This not true. l was in favorfor
perfecting 1t ! have always been in favor
Of its principals. / voted fori every time.
The Republican Senate passed 1t, and we
sent 1t to the House and there 1t was
smothered by Democrats. An of she Re-
publicans supported 1t and q few Demo-
Gratis like Willis of Kentucky, were with
us, but Randall had the whip handle and
we were defeated. But | am glad 10
know that there is an honored and dis
tinguished citizen of Tennessee who dis
proves that action Of the Democracy l
am glad now to say a word of kindness
and good will for the Governor of Ten
nessee. Here is what he said in his mes
sage to the Legislature
my sense of duty to the children Of
the State compels me to say that If there
is a surplus of money in the National
Treasury not applicable to the payment
in the National debt, the appropriation
of the same for this purpose, stripped OF
the conditions of Federal supervision,
would be an inestimable blessing to
them" So say l. s
The true strength of the Republic, its
highest treasure and its greatest hope is
in the general diffusion of intelligence
and information among the masses of the
people, and it will be the greatest triumph
to the Republican institutions, If the day
shall come when every citizen of the Re-
public shall have opened to him the out
err portals of intelligence, so that he may
read, write and comprehend the Consti-
tuition and laws of his country.
Take also the question of the internal
improvements, upon which there is an
honest difference Of opinion as to the ex-
tent and limit they should be made to
the National Government. | am in favor
Of mere local Improvements which do not
add to the general commerce OF the coun-
try. All such can be left to the.States OF
to the interested enterprise OF the citi-
zens of the neighborhood. but as to the
improvement of the great arteries Of
!, commerce traversing or bounding States,
as to the improvement of the rivers and
harbors Of the country, / believe, II
common with tie Republican party, tina
It is the duty of Congress, from sucl
i. money in the Treasury not otherwise ap-
propriated, from time TO time, to maxi
proper appropriations for national i'm
provements.
! You have in Tennessee, 1t is said, thu
/ greatest length of navigable riverf of any
State. The improvement of the Missis
sippi, Tennessee and Cumberland River
| is Of the greatest importance to your in
ternal and external commerce. Yet you
I State cannot mike these Improvements
+, Such attempts haxe been made by man,
of the States, and have been abandoned
{, One of the great objects Of the f0rmatio
. of the Government was to secure i'm
g provements for commerce. The grea
cities Of the country think that all rssvel
and harqors are unimpprtant except thei
Q own, acd yet the commerce of the Obi
!, and Mississippi Rivers Is much greater !
: quantity and value than the commerce 0
Q United States with foreign nations. N
portion of the public expenditure is NOR
, prolific of benefit or is more CAREFUL
, discussed than that expended by the En-
gineer Corps in the improvement of ou
rivers and harbors. If President Cleve
land had ever been west of Bufflo h
would never have pocketed the River AM
Harbor bill. / believe also that it is wis
public policy to erect suitable publ,
buildings to carry on the business of tn,
country, wherever the amount of bust
ness will justify such an expenditure
The United States has the exclusive pow
err over the great and main sources o
revenue. The States have q great mul
titude of duties in the administration o
Justice. In the care of the poor; the edu
ton of the children and in the improve
ment of their cities and towns, ant
have no resource except direct taxa
ton. Wherever there are wise object
of national expenditure, fairly fail
ing within the limits of the Constitution
in which the Government of the Unite'
States may help the States, that assist
ance should be given. / trust the tim
has long gone when the people will fea
the subordination Of the States to th
national Government. AS Congress !
composed of the representatives Of til
people Of all the States, 1t may be safel
trusted to deal with the public money
alike the property of all, and whereyt
the expenditure is a national one, generi
In its character, l can see no reason VIII
0 the general Government may not max
the expenditure.
The Republican party Is a broad n,
tional party. which has during its POI
session of power in the national Cover
{ ment, made greater contributions TO tn
a: wealth and prosperity and happiness {
the people than any other party in OF
, history. 1t has shown that 1t Is capabl
to deal with all questions of internal an
external policy. 1t has established the nj
tional credit upon the firmest basis, pla
ing 1t above that of any nation In I'll
world, not even Great Britain excepted
Its currency is admitted to be now Ii
, , best in the world. copied by nations {
? the Oldest civilization of Europe and Ash
! 1t has promoted and developed our int
nal commerce so that 1t is expanding On
increasing to an extent never befol
known in the history Of mankind. Ith,
bound together by cords of iron an
, steel the remotest parts Of our country
, 1t has developed internal industries nevt
engaged in before Its existence. 1t
s now prepared to open commercial rel
Q tioni With our neighboring countrie
n Mexico, the Dominion Of Canada, Braz
q and the South American Republics.
proposes to increase our business rel
! tons with all these neighboring countri
; by the establishment of lines of stear
. ships, by the extension of American raj
n roads into and through them, by cor
mcrcial regulations that will be liber
i and just to our friendly neighbours 1t
q liberal. broad and generous party,
firm conviction, ardent patriotism al
boundless hopes and aims for the futur
4. ! submit to the good people of Tenness
whether such a party is not to be pr
1. ferred TO the old moth-eaten Democrat
party of the United States, which has
le distinctive line Of public policy, whit